When the Middle Ages began to decline, a new era began to emerge. Inspired by secularism and the classics of ancient Rome and Greece, the Italian Renaissance was a cultural evolution that gave birth to some of the world's finest art, music, architecture and literature. The Italian Renaissance was a surge of ideas and creativity that would define the modern world. Since the end of the Renaissance, scholars have been perplexed about the root causes that led to such a great era. Although the origins of the Italian Renaissance vary in importance, all factors were related to each other. The Black Death, a devastating disease that killed a third of the population, led to a more open economy that raised wages and led people to lose faith in the Church. The notion of secularism and humanism, founded by Francesco Petrarch and other humanists, was born from the loss of faith and the invention of printing, which contributed to the spread of philosophies. Humanism became common among nobles, who wanted to promote themselves and their families by sponsoring the classical arts, thereby subsidizing the Italian Renaissance. In the mid-14th century, the Black Death claimed the lives of nearly 200 million people across Europe. Despite the devastation, the deadly plague contributed to the birth of the Italian Renaissance in two ways (Wilde ¶7-8). Financially, the Black Death was a key factor in the Italian Renaissance. With the loss of nearly 200 million lives, “the poor who had survived the plague suddenly found themselves in positions of power” (Hodgman ¶11). Not only can the poor demand better working conditions, but they can also demand higher wages. This allowed anyone to become richer. Additionally, food prices fell because there was less power from paper but from beliefs. This is called science. Renaissance scientific ideas even dictate modern science. Patronage was at the heart of Renaissance financing. The Italian Renaissance is the result of many events that follow one another. Even the least expected events, such as the Black Death, contributed to the rise of the Renaissance. Its grandeur has been admired since the end of the Renaissance. This stimulated the fine arts and magnificent churches. New ideas arose and spread. It was a cultural development that defined the modern era. The Italian Renaissance is known throughout the world and will always be remembered. Because of its magnificence, it is hard to believe that one of the main causes, humanism, was a simple idea. It is impossible to list all the factors of the Renaissance, but the main causes include the Black Death, humanism and favoritism..